Effective Aug. 28 home builders are required by Missouri state law to provide homebuyers an option to choose installation of a residential fire sprinkler before signing a contract for the purchase of a new home.

The fire sprinkler option is part of a new state law that prohibits local municipalities from adopting new building codes requiring residential fire sprinklers until at least Dec. 31, 2011. The law is designed to ensure that homebuyers have an option to install fire sprinklers and are not mandated to do so by codes. The inclusion of mandatory residential fire sprinklers in the new 2009 International Residential Code has drawn widespread criticism and remains a hotly debated issued.

Click here to download the sample form that HBA has provided its members for free to indicate that buyers have been given the option of installing a residential fire sprinkler. Builders searching for companies that install fire sprinklers can check out the HBA Buyers Guide as well as the Builders Association Buyers Guide.